Like most female opera stars she reitred before her voice totally cracked and kept away from the singing stage but not from musical events. It is due to Joan Sutherland that we now have so many fine recordings in the repertoire of good bel canto operas from the likes of Bellini and Donizetti. Many have followed in her footsteps but few have attained those notes

I have many recordings of both Callas and Sutherland. The thing that most seperates them is probably the time and technology of those recordings. So many of Sutherlands recording are much of a muchness but then, in fairness, so were the operas she was doing. Much of Donizetti is quite similar and he was hard on the soprano role.

Bellini certainly allowed more range and the chance of colouratura. By the time we get to Verdi and Puccini we find them using the tenor and baritone, along with mezzo and bass, in a kind of equal use. Verdi, I feel, was much harder on baritones than on sopranos and tenor, for instance, which is why good Verdian baritones are rarer (Milnes and Zancanarro probably being about the most expressive).

Along came Pavarotti and the repertoire got hoisted another step when he and Sutherland almost reignited the whole interest of duets from bel canto and the romantic era. Callas and di Stefano reinvented and different.

Thankfully the world has been left her voice. Sadly the opera world has lost her spirit and enthusiasm.

A legend all right - she did a lot for opera in Oz, helping nurture young singers and bring older works back into the repertoire.

Many years ago I saw a very funny televised performance of "Die Fledermaus" with Dame Joan in a leading role. (Dame Joan was a tall well-built woman and the singer playing the maid was much smaller) In the scene at the ball, where she recognises her maid wearing a gown from her own closet, she said "Why, there's my maid Adele......wearing my dress".....dramatic pause......"cut down!" The audience erupted.

"Die Fledermaus" is such a great one to allow the performers leeway for humor and improv. I love that story!

Here's hoping the local classical station will pull out some of her performances in coming weeks and days. I'd love to revisit her work. She had a fabulous voice, one of the best ever. And she purposely quit while she was on top, so that remains her legacy.

our local radio station had reminiscences & talk back yesterday after her death was announced.

One woman related what happened on an overseas trip years ago. She was in a crowded bus/train & couldn't strap-hang as she was too short, so was trying to hold on to a post. A taller woman moved back to let her get a grip & she saw it was Joan Sutherland. She told her she had a few copies of an Australian opera magazine in her bag as she was visiting her boyfriend who sang/worked in opera. Joan Sutherland said it was an aweful picture & would she like her to autograph it for him!